A trainer has labelled British racing the "laughing stock of the sporting world" on the back of the latest ground fiasco.
Eve Johnson Houghton aired her strong views after Lingfield became the fourth track to abandon races in the last week. The Surrey venue cancelled two contests due to ground issues, which have also blighted Beverley, Haydock and Chester.
"I have never been so embarrassed to be part of this industry," Johnson Houghton tweeted. "How have 4 tracks got it so wrong that they are not safe to ride around. As trainers if we get any small thing wrong we get fined. What steps are the BHA taking. We are the laughing stock of the sporting world."
The Lingfield stewards made the call after William Buick, odds on to win his first jockeys' championship this season, reported his horse slipped in the opening contest.
He was among the delegation of racing professionals who went and checked the ground, while his weighing room colleagues Pat Cosgrave and Jack Mitchell also gave feedback.
"Having inspected the course, considered the evidence and being unable to find a timely or workable solution to remedy the safety concerns, the stewards ordered races 2 and 3 to be abandoned and races 4 to 7, which are on the straight (track), continue as carded," the report said.
After the first race, the ground was changed to good, good to firm in places (from good to firm, good in places). Then following the fourth, it was officially described as good, good to soft in places. Lingfield's meeting is due to be the last turf action for several months, so drainage work can be carried out.
A racecourse spokesperson confirmed owners who had horses entered in the abandoned races and jockeys left without a ride would receive compensation.
Racegoers were offered complimentary admission to a future fixture, while bookmakers could apply for a credit. The latest ground woes came just days after the loss of Chester's card on Saturday.
Dozens of fans were left disappointed by the track's tweet about the chain of events – and the same account published an apology with several points of clarification on Monday. The meeting was called off after Humanitarian fell on the bend in the fourth contest of the afternoon.
Industry professionals were also frustrated when Haydock scrapped Friday evening's meeting midway through.
"There was a very light shower of rain beforehand and it made the surface slippery enough for the jockeys to be unhappy to continue riding on it," clerk of the course Kirkland Tellwright told ITV Racing.
The track was able to proceed with Saturday's meeting as normal, like Beverley, the venue which lost action on Wednesday. Just four races were run and chief executive Sally Iggulden said: "Unfortunately, it wasn't felt to be safe and that's of most importance."
A British Horseracing Authority spokesperson said: "The BHA is speaking to the racecourses, participants and our teams of course inspectors to determine whether any common cause can be found between the four fixtures which have been impacted by race cancellations."
